Wagering game method, gaming machine, gaming system, and program product providing local and group progressive prizes

ABSTRACT

A method includes maintaining a progressive pool value at a progressive prize meter in a progressive gaming system and, in response to the receipt of a qualifying game play input, conducting a round of a wagering game. An award value for a progressive prize in the progressive gaming system is identified from a set containing a number of different potential award values. In response to a progressive prize triggering event for the round of the wagering game, the progressive prize is awarded and a deduction is taken from the progressive pool value. The value of the progressive prize is equal to the award value identified from the set containing different potential award values.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/049,129, filed Feb. 21, 2016, entitled “Wagering Game Method, GamingMachine, Gaming System, and Program Product Providing Local and GroupProgressive Prizes,” which application is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/864,010, filed Apr. 16, 2013, entitled “WageringGame Method, Gaming Machine, Gaming System, and Program ProductProviding Local and Group Progressive Prizes,” now U.S. Pat. No.9,269,226, which application claims the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. §119(e), of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/625,581 filed Apr.17, 2012, and entitled “Wagering Game Method, Gaming Machine, GamingSystem, and Program Product Providing Local and Group ProgressivePrizes.” The entire content of each of these prior applications isincorporated herein by this reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to wagering games, gaming machines, gamingsystems, and associated methods and program products which provideprogressive prizes. More particularly, the invention relates to wageringgames, gaming machines, and gaming systems which provide multiple typesof progressive prizes, some types based on contributions at a singlegaming machine and other types based on contributions across a group oflinked gaming machines.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Numerous types of wagering games have been developed in an attempt toprovide players with new and varied gaming experiences. In addition toproviding different wagering games with different primary games andvarious different types of bonus or secondary games, wagering games mayoffer various types of payout schedules and may vary payout volatility.Progressive prizes represent another feature which may be offered ingaming systems to increase player interest. Progressive prizes areprizes which are based on wagering activity in the gaming system andthus vary over the course of play. In progressive gaming systems, somefraction of wagers in the gaming system are allocated to one or moreprogressive prize pools, and these pools are used to pay progressiveprizes in response to progressive prize triggering events. One advantageof a progressive gaming system is that the progressive pools may beallowed to grow to very large values and thus provide players with anopportunity to win very large progressive prizes, prizes far in excessof prizes that may be defined in a payout table.

There remains a need in the field of wagering games for systems andarrangements to enhance the player's gaming experience and encourage theplayer to continue play at a given gaming facility. In particular, thereremains a need for progressive gaming systems which maintain playerexcitement and enhance the gaming experience.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention encompasses a method of controlling progressiveprizes awarded through a group of linked gaming machines. Each gamingmachine in the group includes a player input system adapted to receivewagers at the respective gaming machine. In one form, a method includes,under control of at least one processor in the progressive gaming systemincluding a plurality of gaming machines, receiving information from thegaming machines over a network and based on the received information,maintaining a progressive pool value at a progressive prize meter in theprogressive gaming system, the progressive pool value including acontribution amount from each progressive contribution qualifying wagerplaced in the progressive gaming system. For each gaming machine in theprogressive gaming system, a respective local progressive pool value ismaintained at a local progressive meter for the respective gamingmachine. A win meter is maintained in the progressive gaming system, thewin meter being incremented in response to the respective localprogressive pool value for any one of the gaming machines reaching avalue having a defined relationship to a local trigger value. A playergame play input is received including a progressive contributionqualifying wager and, in response to the player game play input,conducting a round of a wagering game. With a processing device in theprogressive gaming system, the method identifies an award value for aprogressive prize in the progressive gaming system, the identified awardvalue being selected from a set containing a number of differentpotential award values. In response to a progressive prize triggeringevent for the round of the wagering game, the method awards theprogressive prize and making a deduction from the progressive poolvalue, the value of the progressive prize being equal to the identifiedaward value, and the progressive prize triggering event comprising acondition in which the win meter reaches a specified value.

In another form, a progressive gaming system includes two or more gamingmachines including a display device, a player input system including acurrency/voucher acceptor, a game processor, and at least one gamememory device accessible by the game processor and storing instructionsexecutable by the game processor to conduct a wagering game at thegaming machine. At least one progressive system processor is coupled tothe two or more gaming machines over a network. At least one progressivesystem memory device is accessible by the progressive system processorand storing instructions executable by the progressive system processorto perform the steps described above.

Because some forms of the invention are implemented using processingdevices executing program code, the invention also encompasses programproducts stored on tangible computer readable media. The programproducts include program code executable to cause the processing deviceor devices to perform the steps described above and in the followingdescription of illustrative embodiments.

These and other advantages and features of the invention will beapparent from the following description of illustrative embodiments,considered along with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a gaming machine which may be used invarious embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation showing various components of agaming machine which may be employed according to one or moreembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a somewhat diagrammatic representation of a bank of gamingmachines which may be connected together for providing progressive gameplay according to various embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a high-level diagrammatic representation showing thecommunications connections between components of a progressive gamingsystem which may embody forms of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic representation of a networked gaming system inwhich the present invention may be implemented.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating processes which may be performed toaward progressive prizes according to various embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating processes which may be performed todetermine if a progressive prize is to be awarded in various embodimentsof the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating a process of identifying a group orlocal progressive prize value according to some forms of the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic representation of a progressive prize valuewheel which may be employed in certain forms of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, FIGS. 1-5 will be used to describe gamingmachines embodying principles of the invention, and a gaming network inwhich the gaming machine may be connected. FIG. 6 will be used todescribe processes by which progressive games may be controlledaccording to various embodiments of the present invention, and FIGS. 7-9will be used to describe certain options within the process shown inFIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 1, a gaming machine 100 includes a cabinet 101 havinga front side generally shown at reference numeral 102. A primary videodisplay device 104 is mounted in a central portion of the front side102, with a button panel 106 positioned below the primary video displaydevice and projecting forwardly from the plane of the primary videodisplay device. In this particular implementation, button panel 106comprises a touch screen display device mounted in an arm rest structure105. In addition to primary video display device 104, the illustratedgaming machine 100 includes an additional video display device 107 whichis also preferably a touch screen display and is positioned in betweenthe primary video display device and button panel 106. The displaysurface of display device 107 is inclined at an angle to provide acomfortable viewing angle to a player standing or sitting in front ofgaming machine 100 with their hands in position to reach button panel106, display device 107, and perhaps the lower portion of primarydisplay device 104. Gaming machine 100 also includes an additionalsmaller auxiliary display device 108 located between primary displaydevice 104 and display device 107. Auxiliary display device 108 may alsocomprise a touch screen device. It should also be noted that eachdisplay device referenced herein may include any suitable display deviceincluding a cathode ray tube, liquid crystal display, plasma display,LED display, OLED display, or any other type of display device currentlyknown or that may be developed in the future. As will be describedfurther below in connection with FIG. 2 and elsewhere, it is alsopossible for gaming machines within the scope of the present inventionto include mechanical elements such as mechanical reels, a mechanicalwheel, or both.

The gaming machine 100 illustrated for purposes of example in FIG. 1also includes a mechanical control button 110 mounted on arm reststructure 105. Mechanical control button 110 may comprise a “Play”button which may be used to initiate a play in a game at the gamingmachine, or may comprise a programmable, multi-function button. It willbe appreciated that virtual buttons or other controls to allow a playerto select a bet level, select pay lines, select a type of game or gamefeature, make a progressive participation input, and actually start aplay in a primary game may also be implemented on touch screen buttonpanel 106. Other forms of gaming machines through which the inventionmay be implemented may include switches, joysticks, buttons, or othermechanical input devices, along with the virtual buttons and othercontrols implemented on touch screen displays such as touch screenbutton panel 106. For example, the lower areas of primary video displaydevice 104 in gaming machine 100 provides a convenient display devicefor implementing touch screen controls in addition to or in lieu ofmechanical controls or touch screen controls located elsewhere.Mechanical input devices in addition to the single mechanical button 110may be conveniently located in areas of arm rest 105 not taken up bytouch screen devices. The mechanical or touch screen-implemented playerinterface devices may receive player inputs to initiate a play in a gameoffered through the gaming machine, or perform other functions, and maybe referred to generally as a player input system.

It will be appreciated that gaming machines may also include a number ofother player interface devices included in the player input system inaddition to devices that are considered player controls for use inplaying a particular game or opting in for progressive play. Gamingmachine 100 also includes a currency/voucher acceptor 112, a player cardreader having a player card input 114, and a voucher/receipt printer115. Numerous other types of player interface devices may be included ingaming machines that may be used according to the present invention.

A gaming machine which may be used to implement embodiments of thepresent invention may also include a sound system to provide an audiooutput to enhance the user's playing experience. For example,illustrated gaming machine 100 includes speakers 116 which may be drivenby a suitable audio amplifier (not shown) to provide a desired audiooutput at the gaming machine. An additional speaker may be includedabove primary display device 104, but is not shown in the perspective ofFIG. 1.

Although not shown in the drawings, a gaming machine through which formsof the present progressive gaming system may be implemented may alsoinclude a video camera located so as to capture video or still images ofa player operating the gaming machine. Such a gaming machine camera maybe operatively connected to be controlled through CPU 205, or throughthe separate processing system 222, both of which are shown in FIG. 2and described further below. Examples of uses of such a video camera inconnection with progressive gaming will be described below.

Gaming machine 100 further includes a cabinet accent lighting system forproviding accent lighting effects in coordination with events at thegaming machine or otherwise. The illustrated embodiment includes acabinet accent lighting system having elongated upper accent lightfixtures 118 which may include a number of LEDs or other types of lightsto provide various lighting effects on either side of primary displaydevice 104. Lower elongated accent light fixtures 120 are also includedon either side of the cabinet 101 between the level of primary displaydevice 104 and touch screen button panel 106.

FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic representation of gaming machine 100 whichincludes a central processing unit (CPU) 205 along with random accessmemory (RAM) 206 and nonvolatile memory or storage device 207.Nonvolatile storage device 207 stores game program code 204 which isexecutable by CPU 205. CPU 205, RAM 206, and storage device 207 are allshown connected on a system bus 208 with an audio controller device 209,a network controller 210, and a serial interface 211. A graphicsprocessor 215 is also connected on bus 208 and is connected to driveprimary video display device 104 and auxiliary display device 108 (bothmounted on cabinet 101 as shown in FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. 2, gamingmachine 100 also includes a touch screen controller 217 connected tosystem bus 208. Touch screen controller 217 is also connected via signalpath 218 to receive signals from a touch screen element associated withprimary video display device 104. It will be appreciated that the touchscreen element may comprise a thin film that is secured over the displaysurface of primary video display device 104, and/or other video displaydevices in the gaming machine such as the button panel video displaydevice 106. The touch screen element itself is not illustrated orreferenced separately in the figures.

The diagrammatic representation of FIG. 2 also shows gaming machine 100as including a separate second processing system 222 which may comprisea single board computer. The second processing system 222 is included inthe illustrated gaming machine 100 for providing processing functionswhich may be associated with progressive play as will be discussedfurther below in connection with FIG. 6. For this reason, processingsystem 222 may be referred to as a progressive controller. In someprogressive gaming systems implementing aspects of the presentinvention, only a single gaming machine in a bank of gaming machinesgrouped for progressive play may include second processing system 222for performing progressive gaming functions. A progressive gaming systemalong these lines will be discussed below in connection with FIG. 4.Also, alternate implementations of a gaming machine within the scope ofthe present invention may use game processor 205 to provide processingfunctions associated with progressive play, or at least some of theprogressive play processing functions. Alternatively, progressive gamingfunctions described below as being performed through processing system222 may instead be performed through a processing system remote from thegaming machine or any other gaming machine grouped for a givenprogressive pool. It should also be noted that processing system 222 mayprovide functions unrelated to progressive gaming in addition toproviding progressive gaming functions.

Second processing system 222 includes CPU 225 (which may be referred toas a progressive system processor), with its own random access memory(RAM) 226, and nonvolatile memory 227, such as a suitable disk-based orsolid state hard drive for storing program code 224 which may beexecuted by CPU 225. Processing system 222 also includes a networkcontroller 230 and a touch screen controller 229 connected to a suitabletouch screen film or other touch-registering element associated withdisplay device 107. Where processing system 222 is dedicated solely forprogressive gaming functions the system may omit the control for displaydevice 107 and that device may instead be controlled through gameprocessor CPU 205 or a graphics processor associated with that device.

Those familiar with data processing devices and systems will appreciatethat other basic electronic components will be included in gamingmachine 100 such as a power supply, cooling systems for the varioussystem components, audio amplifiers, and other devices that are commonin gaming machines. These additional devices are omitted from thedrawings so as not to obscure the present invention in unnecessarydetail.

All of the elements 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, and 211 shown in FIG.2 are elements commonly associated with a personal computer. Theseelements may be mounted on a standard personal computer chassis andhoused in a standard personal computer housing which is itself mountedin cabinet 101 shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively, the various electroniccomponents may be mounted on one or more circuit boards housed withincabinet 101 without a separate enclosure such as those found in personalcomputers. Processing system 222 may comprise a single board computermounted within cabinet 101 or within a separate EMI shielded enclosurewithin the cabinet.

Those familiar with data processing systems and the various dataprocessing elements shown in FIG. 2 will appreciate that many variationson this illustrated structure may be used within the scope of thepresent invention. For example, since serial communications are commonlyemployed to communicate with a touch screen controller such as touchscreen controller 217, the touch screen controller may not be connectedon system bus 208, but instead include a serial communications line toserial interface 211, which may be a USB controller or a IEEE 1394controller for example. It will also be appreciated that some of thedevices shown in FIG. 2 as being connected directly on system bus 208may in fact communicate with the other system components through asuitable expansion bus. Audio controller 209, for example, may beconnected to the system via a PCI bus. System bus 208 is shown in FIG. 2merely to indicate that the various components are connected in somefashion for communication with CPU 205 and is not intended to limit theinvention to any particular bus architecture. Numerous other variationsin the gaming machine internal structure and system may be used withoutdeparting from the principles of the present invention.

It will also be appreciated that graphics processors are also commonly apart of modern computer systems. Although separate graphics processor215 is shown for controlling primary video display device 104, CPU 205may control all of the display devices directly (or through a graphicsprocessor unit packaged or included with CPU 205) without anyintermediate graphics processor. Similarly, although processing system222 is shown as including no separate graphic processor for controllingdisplay device 107 (thus implying that the graphics processing fordisplay device 107 is handled by CPU 225 or perhaps a graphics processorpackaged with CPU 225), implementations of the invention may include aprocessing system such as system 222 with a separate graphics processorinterposed between CPU 225 and display device 107. The invention is notlimited to any particular arrangement of processing devices forcontrolling the video display devices included with gaming machine 100.Also, a gaming machine implementing the present invention is not limitedto any particular number of video display devices.

In the illustrated gaming machine 100, CPU 205 executes software (gameprogram code 204) which ultimately controls primary game play andrelated functions and any secondary or other game play, including thereceipt of player inputs and the presentation of the graphic symbolsdisplayed in the course of game play through the display devices 104 and108 associated with the gaming machine. CPU 205 may thus be referred toas a “game processor.” CPU 205 also executes software related tocommunications handled through network controller 210, and softwarerelated to various peripheral devices such as those connected to thesystem through audio controller 209, serial interface 211, and touchscreen controller 217. CPU 205 may also execute software to performaccounting functions associated with play of the primary game. Randomaccess memory 206 provides memory for use by CPU 205 in executing itsvarious software programs while the nonvolatile memory or storage device207 may comprise a hard drive or other mass storage device providingstorage for game software such as game program code 204 prior to loadinginto random access memory 206 for execution, or for programs not in useor for other data generated or used in the course of gaming machineoperation. Network controller 210 provides an interface to separateprocessing system 222 and other components of a gaming system in whichgaming machine 100 may be included. An example overall network will bedescribed below in connection with FIG. 5, and a progressive gamingportion of such a network will be described below in connection withFIG. 4. In an alternate network configuration within the scope of thepresent invention, a second network controller may be included under thecontrol of CPU 205. This separate network controller may provide aninterface to the separate processing system 222 via network controller230. Such a connection to network controller 230 could be through acrossover cable connected between the separate network controller underthe control of CPU 205 and network controller 230 (or perhaps anothernetwork controller included in separate processing system 222).

It should be noted that the invention is not limited to gaming machinesemploying the personal computer-type arrangement of processing devicesand interfaces shown in example gaming machine 100. Other gamingmachines through which the present progressive gaming systems may beimplemented may include one or more special purpose processing devicesto perform the various processing steps for implementing the presentinvention. Unlike general purpose processing devices such as CPU 205,which may comprise an Intel Pentium® or Core® processor for example,these special purpose processing devices may not employ operationalprogram code to direct the various processing steps.

The example gaming machine 100 which may be used to implement someembodiments of the present invention is shown in FIG. 2 as includinguser interface devices 220 connected to serial interface 211. These userinterface devices may include various player input devices such as touchscreen button panel 106 in FIG. 1, and/or levers, and other devices. Itwill be appreciated that the interface between CPU 205 and other playerinput devices such as player card readers, voucher readers or printers,and other devices may be in the form of serial communications. Thus userserial interface 211 may be used for those additional devices as well,or the gaming machine may include one or more additional serialinterface controllers. However, the interface between peripheral devicesin the gaming machine, such as player input devices, is not limited toany particular type or standard for purposes of the present invention.

Reel Assembly 213 is shown in the diagrammatic representation of FIG. 2to illustrate that a gaming machine which may be used for variousembodiments of the invention may include mechanical reels or some othermechanical rotating device. For example, a set of mechanical reels mayreplace the primary display device 104, or at least part of that displaydevice. Alternatively, mechanical reels may be included in the gamingmachine behind a light-transmissive video display panel. As will bedescribed below in connection with FIG. 8, embodiments of the presentinvention may also include a mechanical rotating wheel in connectionwith displaying a progressive prize amount. Although the invention isnot limited to any particular mechanical reel or wheel arrangement orcontrol system, mechanical rotating devices such as reels or wheels maybe controlled conveniently through serial communications which provideinstructions for a respective stepper motor for each rotating device.Thus some embodiments of the present invention which employ mechanicalrotating devices may use a serial interface device such as serialinterface controller 211 to control communications with the reel and/orwheel assembly, and may not include a dedicated interface as indicatedby FIG. 2. Details of mechanical rotating device arrangements are notshown in the present figures so as to avoid obscuring the presentinvention in unnecessary detail.

It will be appreciated that the diagrammatic representation shown inFIG. 2 is shown only to provide an example of how gaming machine 100 maybe configured for use in a progressive gaming system according to thepresent invention. Numerous variations on this generalized configurationare possible within the scope of the present invention. As noted above,display device 107 may be controlled through processor 205 (directly orthrough another graphics processor communicating with processor 205)rather than through the separate processing system 222. Furthermore, oneor more of the display devices, such as display device 107 may becontrolled through yet another processing system included at the gamingmachine (in addition to system 222 and the system controlled by CPU 205)or controlled via a remote processing system.

FIG. 3 shows a bank 300 of gaming machines 100 together with a groupdisplay arrangement 302 shown supported above the gaming machines. Theparticular group display arrangement 302 shown for purposes of examplein FIG. 3 includes two separate video display devices 304 and 306 alongwith audio speakers 308. It will be appreciated that an additional rowof gaming machines 100 may be arranged in bank 300 back-to-back with therow of gaming machines shown in the figure. In such an arrangement oftwo rows of gaming machines 100, the group display arrangement mayinclude an additional set of display devices and audio speakers (notshown in FIG. 3) facing in the opposite direction from the direction inwhich the illustrated display devices 304 and 306 and speakers 308 face.

Display devices 304 and 306 associated with group display arrangement302 may be used for progressive play functions and for functionsunrelated to progressive play. For example, one or both of displaydevices 304 and 306 may be used to periodically or continuously displaya group progressive meter value for group progressive prizes which maybe available according to the invention. Where there are multiple groupprogressive pools, this may include displaying more than one groupprogressive meter value, one for each separate pool. Group video displaydevices 304 and 306 may also be used to provide various announcements orinteresting graphic effects associated with the play of games at gamingmachines 100. An example of such a use includes displaying anannouncement when a particular level of prize (including a progressiveprize) has been won at one of the gaming machines 100 in bank 300 or ata gaming machine elsewhere in the gaming facility. Where gaming machines100 include a video camera for capturing video or other images of aplayer at the gaming machine, group display devices 304 and 306 may beused to display the images captured from one or more of these gamingmachine video cameras. For example, video of a player who has just beenawarded a progressive prize according to the invention may be displayedthrough group display devices 304 and/or 306. Group display devices 304and 306 may also be used to display competitive play ranking in thecourse of competitive play, or final results of competitive play at twoor more gaming machines 100 in bank 300 or at other gaming machines inthe gaming facility.

FIG. 4 shows a diagrammatic representation of gaming machine bank 300.In particular, FIG. 4 shows each gaming machine 100 connected through anetwork switch 401 to a gaming facility network and to a group displaysystem 402 via a group display controller 404. Group display system 402includes group display controller 404, video display devices 304 and 306and perhaps additional video display devices as described above, and anaudio system 405 operable to drive speakers 308.

It should be appreciated that the network topography shown in FIG. 4 isshown only for purposes of example and is not intended to limit thepresent invention to any particular network topography or networkcommunication standard. Any network or communications arrangementbetween the various devices in the gaming system may be used to providethe communications described below particularly in connection with FIG.6.

It will also be noticed that the arrangement shown in FIG. 4 includes asingle gaming machine 100 (labeled EGM1) configured with a progressivecontroller 222. In this arrangement progressive controller 222associated with gaming machine 100 performs functions associated with atleast group aspects of progressive gaming. The other gaming machines inthe group (EGM2-EGMn) do not necessarily include a separate processingsystem 222 serving as a progressive controller, although they mayinclude the separate processing system 222 shown in FIG. 2 for providingother gaming or non-gaming functions, such as controlling display device107, for example.

Group display controller 404 may include one or more data processingsystems with one or more processors, associated memory devices, anetwork controller to facilitate the indicated network connection, andappropriate interfaces to video display devices 304 and 306 and audiosystem 405. Group display controller 404 may operate under the controlof program code to control video display devices 304 and 306 and audiosystem 405. Alternatively, group display controller 404 may comprise aspecial purpose processing device which does not require the executionof software to provide the required functions. Other progressive gamingsystems within the scope of the present invention may include noseparate group display controller such as controller 404. In theseimplementations, the video display devices 304 and 306 and audio system405 may be controlled through progressive controller 222. In theseimplementations, progressive controller 222 may have a separatecommunication link to each video display device and to the audio system,and may not employ network communications to these devices through theLAN indicated in FIG. 4.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a networked gaming system 500 associated withone or more gaming facilities may include one or more networked gamingmachines 100 (EGMs) connected in the network by suitable network cableor wirelessly. The example gaming network 500 shown in FIG. 5 includes ahost server 501 and floor server 502, which together may function as anintermediary between floor devices such as gaming machines 100 and backoffice devices such as the various servers described below. Game server503 may provide server-based games and/or game services to networkconnected gaming devices such as gaming machines 100. Centraldeterminant server 505 may be included in the network to identify orselect lottery, bingo, or other centrally determined game outcomes andprovide the information to networked gaming machines 100 providinglottery and bingo-based wagering games to players. Although not shown inFIG. 5, a gaming system having gaming machines 100 may also include aplayer club server. Such a player club server may be connected in theback office network together with progressive server 507, accountingserver 511, player account server 509, tournament host server 510, andweb server 520. The player club server may function to receive playerclub communications from the gaming machines 100 to maintain a playerclub account for each player enrolled in a player club. Alternatively,player club points and other information may be maintained throughaccounting server 511.

Tournament host server 510 is included in network 500 for supporting thetournament-related processes which may be offered at gaming machines100. Tournament qualification and tournament game scoring processes maybe performed through tournament host server 510 for example. Inparticular, tournament host server 510 may receive primary game play andwagering information and entry fee payment information from each gamingmachine 100 in order to perform tournament qualification functions.Tournament host server 510 may also receive tournament play informationfrom the various gaming machines 100 participating in a tournament,including a point total for the respective gaming machine. In onetournament implementation, each time a tournament score orpoint-affecting event occurs at a gaming machine 100, the gaming machinecommunicates an updated score to tournament host server 510. Once everyset period of time (every three seconds for example), tournament hostserver 510 may determine a current point total for gaming machine 100participating in the current tournament, rank the point totals toproduce a ranking for at least some top number of tournamentparticipants (top five or top ten for example), and then communicatethat current ranking to the various participating gaming machines alongwith the point total for each rank position. Tournament host server 510may also communicate ranking information and point information to acontroller for a group display system 402.

Progressive server 507 may be included in gaming system 500 tofacilitate casino-wide progressive games and wide-area progressivegames, that is, progressive games in which gaming machines over a largegeographic area may participate. These casino-wide and wide-areaprogressive games are to be distinguished from the progressive playdescribed below in connection with FIG. 6 which may not require aprogressive server such as server 507. Gaming machines 100 within thescope of the present invention may participate in progressive play asdescribed in FIG. 6 and/or play in casino-wide and wide-area progressivegames administered through progressive server 507 and/or other similarservers associated with remote gaming facilities.

Accounting server 511 may receive gaming data from each of the networkedgaming devices, perform audit functions, and provide data for gaminganalysis programs. Player account server 509 may maintain player accountrecords, and store persistent player data such as accumulated playerpoints in a player club system and/or player preferences (for example,game personalizing selections or options).

Networked gaming machines 100 (EGM1-EGMn) and one or more displays (suchas group display devices 304 or 306 in FIG. 3) may be operativelyconnected so that the group display devices may mirror or replay thecontent of one or more displays of gaming machines 100. For example, theprimary display content for a given gaming machine 100 may be stored bya display controller or game processor 205 or by some other processor ofthe given gaming machine and transmitted through network controller 210as shown in FIG. 2 to a controller (such as controller 404 in FIG. 4)associated with the display devices (such as display devices 304 and306) included in group display system 402. In the event gaming machines100 have cameras installed, the respective player's video images may bedisplayed on displays controlled by group display devices along with thecontent of the player's gaming machine display.

Example gaming network 500 also includes a gaming website 521 which maybe hosted through web server 520 and may be accessible by players viathe Internet. One or more games may be displayed as described herein andplayed by a player through a personal computer 523 or handheld wirelessdevice 525 (for example, a Blackberry® cell phone, Apple® iPhone®,personal digital assistant (PDA), iPad®, etc.). To enter website 521, aplayer may log in with a user name that may, for example, be associatedwith the player's account information stored on player account server509. Once logged onto website 521 the player may play various games onthe website. Also, website 521 may allow the player to make variouspersonalizing selections and save the information so it is available foruse during the player's next gaming session at a casino establishmenthaving the gaming machines 100.

It will be appreciated that gaming network 500 illustrated in FIG. 5 isprovided merely as an example of a gaming network in which progressivegaming may be offered according to embodiments of the present invention,and is not intended to be limiting in any way. In particular, serversshown separately in the example of FIG. 5 may be combined in a singlephysical processing device, or the processing duties of the variousillustrated servers may be split into additional physical devices. Itwill be appreciated that each of the servers shown for example in FIG. 5may comprise one or more data processing devices with one or morecentral processing units, associated memory, and related devices.

FIG. 6 may be used to describe various progressive game processes withinthe scope of the present invention. The process 600 shown in FIG. 6includes first initializing the gaming machine (EGM) for progressiveplay as shown at process block 602. Once the gaming machine isinitialized for progressive play, the illustrated process includesreceiving a game play input as shown at process block 604. From thispoint, the process separates into two separate process paths. Oneprocess path includes game processes as indicated at process block 605.The second process path includes progressive gaming related stepsbeginning with process block 606. The game processes indicated atprocess block 605 include identifying a result for the game play inputand any prize associated with that result. These game processes may becontrolled ultimately through a game processor at the gaming machinesuch as CPU 205 shown in FIG. 2. The progressive game processes in thesecond path from process block 604 involve maintaining one or moreprogressive pools and identifying and awarding progressive prizes fromthese pools. The progressive game processes may be controlled through agame processor such as CPU 205 in FIG. 2, or a separate processor suchas CPU 225 in FIG. 2, or through some combination of these two or otherprocessors. It will be appreciated that the processes shown in FIG. 6are conducted for each gaming machine that allows progressive play. Itshould also be appreciated that the steps beginning at receiving thegame play input at process block 604 may be conducted for each game playinput received at the given gaming machine.

The game play input received at process block 604 will define a wagerentered for the given game play at the respective gaming machine. Thiswager value may be used at process block 606 to calculate a localprogressive pool contribution and increment the local progressive meter,and may also be used to calculate a group progressive pool contributionand increment a group progressive meter as indicated at process block608. After these steps of maintaining the progressive pools based on thereceived game play input and the associated wager value, the illustratedprocess includes determining if a local progressive trigger value hasbeen reached as indicated at decision box 610. If this local triggervalue has not been reached, the process loops back to receive the nextgame play input at process block 604. However, if the local triggervalue has been reached as indicated by an affirmative outcome atdecision box 610, the process moves on to increment a win meter asindicated at process block 611. The process continues then to determinewhether the win meter has reached a group trigger value as indicated atdecision box 612. If the group trigger value has not been reached asindicated by a negative outcome at decision box 612, the processproceeds to identify a local progressive prize as indicated at processblock 614 and then award the local progressive prize and adjust thelocal progressive meter as indicated at process block 616. The processthen returns from process block 616 to await the next game play input atprocess block 604. If the group trigger value has been reached asindicated by an affirmative outcome at decision box 612, the processcontinues to identify a group progressive prize as indicated at processblock 618 and then award the group progressive prize and adjust thegroup progressive meter as indicated at process block 620. The processthen returns to await the next game play input at process block 604.

Where it is necessary to initialize a given gaming machine forprogressive play as indicated at process block 602, the initializationmay include a number of separate steps which place the gaming machineand the system in which it is included in position to perform stepslater in the process. For example, when the gaming machine first comesonline in a gaming system, it may communicate information such asdenomination and wager information to a progressive controller such asprogressive controller 222. The progressive controller may then respondto these gaming machine communications once the progressive controllerperforms the various functions necessary to accommodate incoming gameplay inputs from that gaming machine. It should be appreciated that insome implementations of the invention, no separate gaming machineinitialization process is necessary as indicated at process block 602.

The game play input received as indicated at process block 604 mayinclude a single input or several different inputs, all ultimatelyrepresenting a request for a result in a game and an amount wagered forthat particular result. For example, a player at a given gaming machinemay be required to make one or more inputs to select a bet level whichdefines the wager placed for that particular play. A player may also berequired to make other inputs or selections depending upon the gamebeing played. All of these inputs may be entered through a userinterface system which may include user interface devices such as thoseindicated at 220 in FIG. 2, and may be received at least at a gameprocessor for the gaming machine (such as CPU 205 in FIG. 2). Thepresent progressive gaming invention is not limited to any particulartype of game play input or sequence of actions or inputs which togetherrepresent the game play input received as indicated at process block 220in FIG. 2.

The processes indicated at process blocks 606 and 608 in FIG. 6 areprocesses that contribute to maintaining two progressive pools, a localprogressive pool that is local to that particular gaming machine, and agroup progressive pool that is shared among all of the gaming machinesin a bank of gaming machines 100 such as that shown in FIG. 3. The poolmaintenance requires calculating a contribution amount for eachprogressive pool based on the wager defined by the game play input. Forexample, for a given wager, five percent of the wager may be allocatedto a local pool for that gaming machine whereas another five percent maybe allocated to the group progressive pool. A suitable meter is used tomaintain each pool, both the local pool and the group pool. As usedherein a “meter” may include a register, a memory location, a physicalmeter or any other device or combination of devices which are capable ofmaintaining a running value for amounts added to and subtracted from aprogressive pool to provide a current pool value at a give point intime. Various alternative arrangements for the meters noted at processblocks 606 and 608 will be described further below in connection withprocess blocks 616 and 620.

The communications required to perform these calculations and tomaintain the meters will depend upon what particular component orcomponents in the gaming system perform these steps. In someimplementations of the invention, the processes indicated at processblock 606 may be performed at the respective gaming machine with aprocessor such as CPU 205 shown in FIG. 2, whereas the processesindicated at process block 608 may be performed at one of the gamingmachines having a separate progressive controller such as progressivecontroller 222 shown in FIG. 2. Alternatively to providing a progressivecontroller at one of the gaming machines, the progressive controller maybe at some other physical location in the network. In other forms of theinvention, each gaming machine in the group may be responsible formaintaining the respective local progressive pool for that gamingmachine and may also be responsible for redundantly maintaining thegroup progressive pool. In yet other forms of the invention, a singleprogressive controller such as progressive controller 222 shown in FIG.2, or a progressive controller located remotely from each of the gamingmachines may maintain the local progressive pool for each respectivegaming machine and the group progressive pool. In cases where somedevice separate from the game processor for the given gaming machinemaintains one of the pools, it is necessary to communicate from thegaming machine to the separate device either the wager amount and thecontribution fraction (if the fraction is not already known to theseparate device), or the value of the contribution calculated from thegiven wager. Of course, any progressive pool maintenance at theindividual gaming machine based on contributions from only that gamingmachine requires no communication of data to the gaming machine becausethe gaming machine will have wager information and the fraction appliedas the contribution.

In some forms of the invention, it is desirable to inform each player ofthe accumulated pool values both for the local pool for the respectivegaming machine and the group progressive pool. The processes shown atprocess blocks 606 and 608 thus may also include communicating thecurrent progressive meter values as necessary so that these values maybe displayed by a suitable display device at the gaming machines. Inparticular, where any of the progressive pool values are maintained at aseparate progressive controller such as progressive controller 222 inFIG. 2, the controller will periodically communicate the respective poolvalue to each gaming machine in the group. At least the groupprogressive pool value may also be communicated periodically to a groupdisplay controller such as controller 404 in FIG. 4, which may thendirect one or both of the display devices 304 and 306 to display thecurrent value of the group progressive pool.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 6, progressive prizesare awarded based upon the amount of progressive contributions whichhave been collected according to the local progressive meters maintainedfor the various gaming machines in the system. The process indicated atdecision box 610 comprises a process which evaluates the local metervalue after adjusting for the contribution for the given game play inputreceived at process block 604 to determine whether a local progressivetrigger value has been reached for that gaming machine. If so, theprocess continues to determine the particular progressive prize to beawarded to the player operating that gaming machine, and, in theillustrated embodiment, from which pool or pools the progressive prizeis to be taken. One preferred process for reaching a decision atdecision box 610 will be described below in connection with FIG. 7.Regardless of the particular process used to reach the decisionindicated at decision box 610, if the decision is negative then theprocess simply loops back to receive the next game play input inaccordance with process block 604.

The process illustrated in FIG. 6 employs a win meter in the process ofidentifying whether the progressive prize to be awarded is taken fromthe group progressive pool value or from the local progressive poolvalue for that gaming machine. As with the local and group progressivemeters described above, the win meter may comprise any suitable deviceor collection of devices for maintaining a current count. In the case ofthe win meter, the count is of the total number of local triggers thathave occurred since the last prize was awarded from the groupprogressive pool. In the illustrated arrangement, the win meter isincremented each time a particular gaming machine in the groupcontributing to the group progressive pool reaches the local triggervalue as indicated by an affirmative result at decision box 610.

Because the win meter is affected by events at all of the gamingmachines in the group, the win meter is conveniently implemented throughthe progressive controller for the group such as progressive controller222 shown in FIG. 2. It is possible, however, to maintain a win metercount at each gaming machine. In the former situation in which the winmeter is maintained by a progressive controller, the step indicated atprocess block 611 in FIG. 6 requires a communication to the progressivecontroller from the component in the system which determines if thelocal trigger value is met. For example, if the decision indicated atdecision box 610 is made at the respective gaming machine, and the winmeter is maintained at a progressive controller (which may be co-locatedat a gaming machine but having a separate network interface as shown inFIG. 2), then the gaming machine must communicate the outcome atdecision box 610 to the progressive controller in order to enable theprogressive controller to increment the win meter. On the other hand, ifthe win meter is maintained at each gaming machine and the decision atdecision box 610 is made at the respective gaming machine, each gamemachine must communicate the result from decision box 610 to each othergaming machine to facilitate incrementing each of the redundant winmeters.

Regardless of how the win meter is maintained, the illustrated process600 employs the value of the win meter to determine whether theprogressive prize to be awarded is taken from the local progressive poolmaintained by the local progressive meter for that gaming machine, orthe group progressive pool maintained by the group progressive meter asindicated by decision box 612. In one form of the invention, a staticvalue is used for the group trigger value in making the decisionindicated at decision block 612. For example, a static trigger value ofsome integer X may be set for the decision indicated at box 612. Ifafter incrementing the win meter as indicated at process block 611, thewin meter value equals the integer X then the result at decision box 612will be affirmative. Otherwise in this static trigger value example, theresult will be negative. Other forms of the invention may not use astatic group trigger value but may, for example, randomly or pseudorandomly select a group trigger value from a range of potential grouptrigger values for one or more of the decisions indicated at decisionbox 612. Also, where the win meter is maintained at progressivecontroller 222, the evaluation indicated at decision box 612 isconveniently performed at progressive controller 222. Where the groupmeter is redundantly maintained at each gaming machine, a processingdevice at the respective gaming machine may perform the evaluationindicated at decision box 612.

The process of identifying the local progressive prize value asindicated at process block 614 in FIG. 6 may comprise a number ofdifferent processes within the scope of the present invention.Variations on these processes will be described further below inconnection with FIGS. 8 and 9. In some preferred forms of the invention,the step of identifying local progressive prize value is performed by aprocessing device at the particular gaming machine which received thegame play input as indicated at process block 604. This identifying stepmay be conveniently performed at the gaming machine where the gamingmachine is also responsible for maintaining the local meter value.However, if the local progressive meter value is maintained at aseparate network resource such as the progressive controller 222 in FIG.2, the identifying step indicated at process block 614 may be performedat the progressive controller. If the win meter is maintainedredundantly at each gaming machine and the prize value identificationstep indicated that process block 614 is performed at the progressivecontroller, a communication from one of the gaming machines to theprogressive controller may be required to initiate the identifying step.The same options are available with regard to the process of identifyingthe group progressive prize value as indicated at process block 618. Theprocess at block 618 is illustrated in the figure as also includingresetting the win meter. The reset is performed to facilitate triggeringthe group progressive prize based on the count of local triggers fromthe award of the previous group progressive prize.

The awarding steps indicated at process blocks 616 and 620 in FIG. 6involve transferring value from the progressive meter value for therespective progressive pool to the player who has won the respectiveprogressive prize. This transfer may commonly involve incrementing acredit meter for the player's gaming session at the respective gamingmachine or incrementing a player account by the amount of the awardedprogressive prize, expressed as either credits or currency. In anyevent, awarding the progressive prize reduces the value of theprogressive pool from which the prize is awarded. Thus process blocks616 and 620 indicate that the respective progressive meter is adjustedto reduce the meter value. This reduction is in the amount of theawarded progressive prize.

As noted above, the invention is not limited to any particular meterdevice or other arrangement for maintaining the progressive pool value.The incrementing steps indicated in FIG. 6 may involve incrementing thevalue of single meter value and the decrementing steps may involvereducing that meter value. Alternative arrangements may maintain twoseparate meters one of which, a “pay in” meter, maintains a runningvalue of all contributions to the respective progressive pool and aseparate “pay out” meter maintains a running total of all prizes whichhave been awarded from the respective pool. In this case, the currentvalue of the respective pool is determined by subtracting the value ofthe “pay out” meter from the value of the “pay in” meter and therespective progressive prize meter is made up of both meters.

The process indicated at FIG. 6 separates the game processes indicatedat process block 605 from the progressive prize awarding processesbeginning at process block 606 in the process flow. Thus the timing andamount of a progressive award according to process 600 may be unrelatedto any outcome or event in the game process for the given game play atthe given gaming machine. Since the progressive awarding process andgame processes are separate in this arrangement, the progressive prizemay be awarded at any time during the course of game play. In onepreferred arrangement, the progressive awards made in accordance withprocess blocks 616 and 620 are made after the conclusion of the gameprocess (at process block 605) for the given game play. Other forms ofthe invention may make the progressive awards at some point during thecourse of the game process indicated at block 605. That is, the gameprocess at process block 605 may be interrupted to make the progressiveawards. Otherwise, the timing of actually awarding the progressiveprizes may be integrated in any fashion into the game process indicatedat process block 605.

In alternative arrangements, the award of progressive prizes may bedependent in some fashion on one or more events in the game processshown at process block 605. For example, the timing of the awardindicated at process block 616 or 620 may be coordinated with some eventin the course of the game process that process block 605. In oneexample, the award is made only when the game process produces a losingresult. In other arrangements, the progressive award is made only whenthe game process reaches a particular winning result. In the case wherethe progressive award is coordinated with some event in the gameprocess, the prizes identified in accordance with process block 614 or618 may be held in some fashion so that the award may be made at theappropriate time during the given game process.

Some processes according to the invention may announce to the group ofgaming machines in some fashion that a progressive prize has been won,and the amount of the progressive prize. This announcement may be madeprior to the time that the winner of the progressive prize is notifiedthat they are the one that has won that progressive prize. Such a delaybetween announcing the winning of the progressive prize to the group ofgame machines and notifying the particular winner may result fromdelaying the award to coordinate with some event in the game process ormay be based on some elapsed time or some other parameter. For example,the system may announce that the group progressive prize has been wonand then show a countdown timer which counts down to the time that theactual winner is notified. The separation of progressive prize windetermination from the game process facilitates arrangements which firstannounce that a progressive prize has been won and then notify thewinning player later.

FIG. 7 shows one preferred process by which the decision indicated atdecision box 610 in FIG. 6 may be made. The process shown in FIG. 7includes first defining a set of local trigger values as indicated atprocess block 701. Once the set of local trigger values has beendefined, the process includes selecting one of those local triggervalues as indicated at process block 702. This selection identifies thetrigger value to be applied in making the decision indicated at decisionbox 610 in FIG. 6. The process in FIG. 7 next includes applying theselected local trigger value in making the local trigger value decisionas indicated at process block 704.

In one implementation, a set of potential local trigger values isdefined once and this set of potential local trigger values is usedmultiple times in the process shown in FIG. 7. Alternatively, adifferent set of potential local trigger values may be defined for eachinstance of the process shown in FIG. 7. In any case, local triggervalues may be defined as any suitable values, including currency valuessuch as $25, $50, $75, and $100 or equivalent credit values. It shouldbe appreciated that the invention is not limited to any particularnumber of potential trigger values used to define a set or anyparticular potential trigger values. However, employing low potentialtrigger values in the set defined as indicated at process block 701 willresult in relatively more frequent triggers for a progressive prize,that is, a positive result at decision box 610 in FIG. 6. The potentiallocal trigger values defined according to process block 701 in FIG. 7need not be evenly distributed across the set. For example, the valuesmay comprise $25, $75, $85, and $100. Although the two examplesdescribed above each include four potential trigger values, more orfewer values may be defined for a given set in accordance with processblock 701.

The selection indicated at process block 702 in FIG. 7 may be performedin any suitable fashion. One arrangement randomly or pseudo-randomlyselects a value from the set of potential trigger values to ensure aneven distribution of selections across the potential values over time.The selection may be performed to produce a predefined average triggervalue over time as well. One process for applying the selected localtrigger value as indicated at process block 704 in FIG. 7 simplycomprises comparing the current value of the respective localprogressive prize pool to the selected local trigger value. If thecurrent progressive value is greater than or equal to the selectedtrigger value, then the decision at process box 610 in FIG. 6 isaffirmative, and the process proceeds to eventually award a progressiveprize. Any other suitable process may be used to apply the selectedlocal trigger value as indicated at process block 704 in FIG. 7. Forexample, the application may employ a proximity evaluation. A suitableproximity evaluation might determine if the current progressive poolvalue is within some proximity value of the selected local triggervalue, or is greater than the selected local trigger value. If so, thenthe outcome at decision box 610 is affirmative and the progressive awardis triggered.

In should be appreciated that FIG. 7 shows simply one preferred processfor making the determination indicated at decision box 610 in FIG. 6.Any other suitable process may be used.

Referring to FIG. 8, the process of identifying the particularprogressive prize to be awarded as indicated at either process block 614or 618 in FIG. 6 may include first identifying a set of potentialprogressive prize values as indicated at process block 801. The methodmay then include selecting one of the potential progressive prize valuesfrom the set as indicated at process block 802. In one preferred form ofthe invention, the potential progressive prize values are defined as apercentage of the then current progressive pool value from which theprogressive prize is to be awarded. Thus the selection indicated atprocess block 802 may be from among these percentage values. Theselection may be performed in any suitable manner and preferablyrandomly or pseudo-randomly. The selection process may weight one ormore of the potential progressive prize values so that the weightedprogressive prize value is selected more or less frequently than theothers. Otherwise there may be no weighting or preference between thepotential progressive prize values.

In some preferred forms of the invention, the selection process may bedisplayed to the player at the respective gaming machine using a devicesuch as the progressive prize wheel 901 shown in FIG. 9. This exampleprize wheel 901 is divided into quadrants 902, 903, 904, and 905 eachassociated with a percentage value representing a percentage of the thencurrent value of the progressive pool as indicated by the current meterrecord. Prize wheel 901 may comprise a virtual device generated on avideo display at the given gaming machine (and/or at a group displaydevice such as display device 304 and/or 306 in FIGS. 3 and 4) or maycomprise a physical device which physically rotates in response to aspin initiated in some fashion. The prize won for a given spin of wheel901 may be shown with a quadrant indicator 908 which, once the prizewheel comes to a stop, indicates the quadrant corresponding to the prizeto be awarded to the player. In alternate display arrangements, theprize wheel may remain static while an indicator such as indicator 908travels around the periphery of the prize wheel (physically or throughvideo animation), eventually coming to stop adjacent to one of thequadrants to indicate the progressive prize. In physical prize wheelarrangements, the moving element (the wheel and/or the indicatorelement) may be driven by a suitable stepper motor under the control ofa processor such as CPU 205 shown in FIG. 2 to indicate the prize whichhas been selected according to the process indicated at process block802 in FIG. 8. It should be appreciated that the invention is notlimited to the prize wheel shown in FIG. 9 or to a set of only fourdifferent potential prizes, or to prizes expressed in terms of apercentage of the progressive pool value. Other rotating devicearrangements such as spinning reels or rings, or any other device may beused within the scope of the present invention to display theprogressive prize amount that has been won according to the invention.

The communications required between the various devices in the systemshown for example in FIGS. 3 and 4 are not limited to any particulartype or protocol, even though the topography indicated in FIG. 4 is atypical Ethernet network topography. Also, the transport mechanisms mayvary between the different devices. For example, in one implementationof the system illustrated in FIG. 4, the transport mechanism forcommunications between gaming machines 100 and progressive controller222 may be in the form of Slot Accounting System messages over Ethernet(TCP/IP) using a second Slot Accounting System channel separate fromthat used for non-progressive game accounting. In this implementationthe transport mechanism for communications from progressive controller222 to group display controller 404 may be G2S protocol over TCP/IP viewhttps, and the discovery transport mechanism in the system (that is, thetransport mechanism used for identifying contributing gaming machines inthe initialization step shown at block 602 in FIG. 6) may be UDP overEthernet.

Other variations which may be included in the progressive gaming systemsdescribed herein may include variations on adjusting the value of agiven progressive pool when a progressive prize is awarded from thatpool. In situations in which the progressive prize which is awarded fromthe given pool represents 100% or some other large percentage of thethen current pool value, it is desirable to reset the pool value at someseed value rather than simply reducing the pool value to zero (or someother low value in the case of a large percentage less than 100%) uponawarding the progressive prize. The seed value added to a given pool mayvary depending upon the progressive prize which has been awarded. Forexample, a 25% progressive pool award may reduce the progressive pool tosome amount below a minimum pool value, whereas a 50% progressive poolaward would reduce the pool value to a greater extent. A seed valueneeded to raise the pool value to a minimum value will be lower for the25% pool prize than for the 30% pool prize calculated based on the samepool value.

The present invention also encompasses variations in the way theprogressive prizes are identified in process blocks 614 and 618 in FIG.6. For example, the process described above in connection with FIG. 8may be used for identifying the group progressive prize as indicated atprocess block 618, and a different process may be used to identify thelocal progressive prize as indicated at process block 614, or viceversa.

It should also be appreciated that although the potential progressiveprize values identified for the step shown at process block 801 in FIG.8 may each conveniently be expressed in terms of a percentage of theprogressive pool value, the potential progressive prize values may befixed values or may be expressed in any other way. Fixed prize valuesmay be facilitated by causing the progressive prize to be awarded onlywhen the progressive pool is at or above a predefined value. Thus thewin meter step at process block 611 in FIG. 6 and the evaluation atdecision box 612 may be replaced with an evaluation of the groupprogressive pool value to determine if it is at or above a predefinedthreshold value.

In some implementations of the present invention, whether a given gamingmachine in the network is enabled for progressive play may be set by anauthorized technician accessing a setup routine at the gaming machine.If the technician enables the gaming machine for progressive playaccording to the invention, the process conducted at the gaming machinemay be as shown in FIG. 6 at process block 602.

Some implementations of the invention may rely on functionality added toexisting programs executed at the gaming machine to facilitate theprogressive contribution calculation and total progressive valuemaintenance at the gaming machine. For example, some gaming systemsemploy program code executed at the game processor of a gaming machinesuch as CPU 205 in FIG. 2, to load particular game software at thegaming machine. This game loading control software may be modifiedaccording to forms of the present invention to add functionality toreceive a game payout rate percentage, progressive set aside percentageor value (a fixed or variable value), and to calculate the progressivecontribution value as indicated at process blocks 606 and 608 in FIG. 6.

The above discussion related to FIG. 6 generally refers to a singlelocal progressive pool value and a single group progressive pool value.It should be appreciated, however, that the invention is not limited toa single progressive value for either local progressive prizes or groupprogressive prizes. Rather, progressive games may be implementedaccording to the invention in which a given wager amount contributes tomultiple different local and/or group progressive pools simultaneously,or one of multiple progressive pools depending upon one or more factors,such as the level of the wager for example. In these multipleprogressive implementations, the calculations and operations indicatedat process blocks 606 and 608 may be performed for each of the differentprogressive totals being maintained. Also each different progressivepool may have a different trigger as the progressive prize winning eventfor that pool.

As used in the foregoing description and the following claims, the terms“comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,”“involving,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, thatis, to mean including but not limited to. Any use of ordinal terms suchas “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., in the claims to modify a claimelement does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order ofone claim element over another, or the temporal order in which acts of amethod are performed. Rather, unless specifically stated otherwise, suchordinal terms are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim elementhaving a certain name from another element having a same name (but foruse of the ordinal term).

The above-described example embodiments are intended to illustrate theprinciples of the invention, but not to limit the scope of theinvention. Various other embodiments and modifications to thesepreferred embodiments may be made by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention.

1. A method of controlling the award of a progressive prize in aprogressive gaming system, the method including: (a) under control of atleast one processor in the progressive gaming system including aplurality of gaming machines, receiving information from the gamingmachines over a network and based on the received information,maintaining a progressive pool value at a progressive prize meter in theprogressive gaming system, the progressive pool value including acontribution amount from each progressive contribution qualifying wagerplaced in the progressive gaming system; (b) under control of the atleast one processor in the progressive gaming system, for each gamingmachine in the progressive gaming system, maintaining a respective localprogressive pool value at a local progressive meter for the respectivegaming machine; (c) under control of the at least one processor in theprogressive gaming system, maintaining a win meter in the progressivegaming system, the win meter being incremented in response to therespective local progressive pool value for any one of the gamingmachines reaching a value having a defined relationship to a localtrigger value; (d) under control of the at least one processor in theprogressive gaming system, receiving a player game play input includinga progressive contribution qualifying wager and, in response to theplayer game play input, conducting a round of a wagering game; (e) undercontrol of the at least one processor in the progressive gaming system,with a processing device in the progressive gaming system, identifyingan award value for a progressive prize in the progressive gaming system,the identified award value being selected from a set containing a numberof different potential award values; and (f) under control of the atleast one processor in the progressive gaming system, in response to aprogressive prize triggering event for the round of the wagering game,awarding the progressive prize and making a deduction from theprogressive pool value, the value of the progressive prize being equalto the identified award value, and the progressive prize triggeringevent comprising a condition in which the win meter reaches a specifiedvalue.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one potential awardvalue is defined as a percentage of the progressive pool value.
 3. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the award value is identified randomly orpseudo-randomly.
 4. The method of claim 1 further including displayingat least some of the different potential award values on a rotatingdisplay device, and wherein the identified award value is shown by anindicator when the rotating display device comes to a stop.
 5. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the award value is identified in response tothe progressive prize triggering event.
 6. A progressive gaming systemincluding: (a) two or more gaming machines, each gaming machineincluding (i) a display device, (ii) a player input system including acurrency/voucher acceptor; (iii) a game processor, and (iv) at least onegame memory device accessible by the game processor and storinginstructions executable by the game processor to conduct a wagering gameat the gaming machine; (b) at least one progressive system processorcoupled to the two or more gaming machines over a network; and (c) atleast one progressive system memory device accessible by the progressivesystem processor and storing instructions executable by the progressivesystem processor to (i) receiving information from the gaming machinesover the network to maintain a progressive pool value at a progressiveprize meter in the progressive gaming system, the progressive pool valueincluding a contribution amount from each progressive contributionqualifying wager placed in the progressive gaming system, (ii) for eachof the two or more gaming machines, maintain a respective localprogressive meter for the respective gaming machine, (iii) maintain awin meter which is incremented in response to the respective localprogressive pool value for any one of the gaming machines reaching avalue having a defined relationship to a local trigger value, (iv)identify an award value for a progressive prize in the progressivegaming system, the identified award value being selected from a setcontaining a number of different potential award values, and (v) inresponse to a progressive prize triggering event for a round of thewagering game, awarding the progressive prize and making a deductionfrom the progressive pool value, the value of the progressive prizebeing equal to the identified award value, and the progressive prizetriggering event comprising a condition in which the win meter reaches aspecified value.
 7. The progressive gaming system of claim 6 wherein theset containing the number of different potential award values containsone or more potential award values defined as a percentage of theprogressive pool value.
 8. The progressive gaming system of claim 6wherein the award value is identified randomly or pseudo-randomly. 9.The progressive gaming system of claim 6 further including displaying atleast some of the different potential award values on a rotating displaydevice, and wherein the identified award value is shown by an indicatorwhen the rotating display device comes to a stop.
 10. The progressivegaming system of claim 6 wherein the award value is identified inresponse to the progressive prize triggering event.
 11. A programproduct comprising one or more non-transitory computer readable mediastoring program code, the program code being executable by one or moreprocessing devices to: (a) receive information from a plurality ofgaming machines over a network to maintain a progressive pool value at aprogressive prize meter in a progressive gaming system, the progressivepool value including a contribution amount from each progressivecontribution qualifying wager placed in the progressive gaming system atthe gaming machines; (b) for each of the gaming machines in theprogressive gaming system, maintaining a respective local progressivepool value at a local progressive meter for the respective gamingmachine; (c) maintain a win meter in the progressive gaming system, thewin meter being incremented in response to the respective localprogressive pool value for any one of the gaming machines reaching avalue having a defined relationship to a local trigger value; (d)receiving a player game play input including a progressive contributionwager and, in response to the player game play input, conducting a roundof a wagering game; (e) with a processing device in the progressivegaming system, identifying an award value for a progressive prize in theprogressive gaming system, the identified award value being selectedfrom a set containing a number of different potential award values; and(f) in response to a progressive prize triggering event for the round ofthe wagering game, awarding the progressive prize and making a deductionfrom the progressive pool value, the value of the progressive prizebeing equal to the identified award value, and the progressive prizetriggering event comprising a condition in which the win meter reaches aspecified value.
 12. The program product of claim 11 wherein at leastone potential award value is defined as a percentage of the progressivepool value.
 13. The program product of claim 11 wherein the award valueis identified randomly or pseudo-randomly.
 14. The program product ofclaim 11 wherein the program code is also executable to display at leastsome of the different potential award values on a rotating displaydevice, and wherein the identified award value is shown by an indicatorwhen the display device comes to a stop.
 15. The program product ofclaim 11 wherein the award value is identified in response to theprogressive prize triggering event.